Special train with N-E people leaves for Karnataka

Guwahati, Sept 1: A special train left here today for Bangalore with the North-east people, who have recently fled from the Karnataka capital following rumours of a backlash on them over the ethnic clashes in Assam. The train left at 2.35 pm, the railway sources said.

The passengers of the train, with 14 sleeper class coaches, were seen off by ministers Nilamoni Sen Deka and Rockybul Hussain at the Guwahati railway station.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had on Thursday said that a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) special train would ply from here to Bangalore after the Assam government asked the railways to help the thousands of students and workers who had arrived home from Bangalore, Hyderabad and other southern cities over fear of attacks.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka had visited Assam and Manipur on August 25 and 26 last assuring that security would be provided to the N-E people in Bangalore and requested them to return and resume their work and studies there.

Ashoka had also asked Gogoi to arrange for special trains to facilitate the return of the people to Bangalore and other places.